ATHENS – [ANA-MPA]
A draft law related to biomethane, hydrogen, and a partial incorporation into national law of EU Directive 2024/1788 on common rules on natural gas passed its first reading in Parliament on June 27.
The full title of the Greek bill is “Framework for the promotion of biomethane production, regulations for the organization of the hydrogen-production market and the geographically restricted hydrogen networks – Partial incorporation of Directive (EC) 2024/2018 and other regulations for the protection of the environment.”
Supporting it at the Standing Committee on Production & Trade were ruling New Democracy, while most opposition parties (PASOK, SYRIZA, Elliniki Lysi, Nea Aristera, and Plefsi Eleftherias) reserved judgment for the plenary debate, and the Communist Party of Greece and Niki voted against it.
Non-parliamentary entities that had been invited to provide an opinion at the first committee reading received the bill positively and said it was “a first, significant, positive, and necessary step in building a new energy market.” Environment & Energy Minister Nikolaos Tzafos asserted that all comments and proposals tabled about it would be taken into account.
An accompanying report said the draft law will allow the operation of hydrogen and biomethane facilities and link them to existing natural gas distribution networks.
